From an Arizona standpoint, the Isleworth-UCF Collegiate Invitational may have well been sponsored by the number 17.
The men’s golf team began and finished the tournament at 17th place, thanks to an 8-over 296 third round yesterday.
The Wildcats had an 8-over 296 third round to finish the tournament at 32-over 896. Only one team in the field finished worse.
“”We’re not very good,”” said UA head coach Rick LaRose. “”I’m very disappointed (about the finish). I’m as disappointed as I’ve been in all my years here.””
Arizona’s 13-over 301 in the first round put the Wildcats in a hole they could not dig out of. The team finished with a score of 32-over 896.
“”We’re very disappointed,”” said senior Creighton Honeck “”We didn’t get the job done.””
Freshman Tarquin MacManus also started the tournament at 17th but bounced back and finished 10th with a score of 2-under 214. MacManus was the only Wildcat to finish under par.
“”I was happy with my play in the first rounds,”” MacManus said. “”I’m happy with (the top-10 finish), especially in this strong field.””
The highlight of his tournament was a 3-under 69 second round that saw him climb as high as fifth place. But three bogeys on the final three holes of the yesterday’s round dropped MacManus five slots.
“”I’m disappointed in my final round,”” MacManus said. “”I made some mistakes I shouldn’t have.””
Added LaRose: “”He had a chance to win. So I’m sure he’s very disappointed.””
The biggest reason Arizona finished 17th was that MacManus didn’t get any help, LaRose said.
Freshman Andrew Kelly finished dead last in the tournament. His score of 39-over 255 was the worst in Arizona history, while Honeck – usually the top performer on the team – finished 56th at 8-over 224.
“”I’m very disappointed in myself,”” Honeck said. “”I didn’t know where the ball was going.””
The Wildcats’ final fall tournament, the CordeValle Collegiate in San Martin, Calif., begins Nov. 2.
“”We need to regroup and have a really good week of practice,”” Honeck said. “”Like we do for every tournament, we need to go in thinking we’re gonna do well.””
